Classical Literary History: An Aid to Sir Philip Sidney's

Defense in'An Apology for

Poetry'

Megan D. Casilla

An analytic overview of the value of the classics

as presented in An Apology for Poetry of

Sir Philip Sidney in defending

poetry.

Thesis Stateme

nt

How is classical History presented in An Apology for

Poetry?

What lies in the classical history

affecting the text?

Who are the classics or the

ancients with whom the author based

his arguments from? And how?

Problems

Historical-BiographicalApproach

Method

Used

Sir Philip Sidney (1554-1586)• First of the great English

Poets• He wrote ‘An Apology for

Poetry’ in response to Stephen Gossen’s ‘School of Abuse’ which attacked poetry.

• Neoclassical writer• Soldier and Courtier to

Queen Elizabeth

An Apology for Poetry• Defence of Poesy• Critical Essay• Written at about 1579,

published on 1595• This was written not only to

defend Poetry from what Stephen Gossen says but also to generally defend Poetry to everyone.

The research on the classical history found in the text is fueled by the urge to establish a wider scope of knowledge presented by Sir Philip Sidney in his text. This text is vital in the field of Literary Criticism and to break down the factors affecting the making of this text would as well be helpful in understanding the content of the text.

Historical-Biographical Criticism• An Apology incorporated

most of its ideas from three classics or ancients:

• Plato• Aristotle• Horace

• He also included contemporary ways to defend poetry through religion and Philosophy

Plato• Wrote his series of texts

entitled, ‘Republic’• Theory of Forms and

Ideas• Mimetic Theory

• Deceitfulness of Poetry• Poetry as waste of time• Should be Banned

Aristotle• Wrote ‘Poetics’

• Mimetic Theory• True imitation of what

is reality in this world• Nature• Tragedy

Horace• Wrote ‘Ars Poetica’

• Ars Poetica is more like a plea to take Poetry seriously

• Drama• Poetic Unity and

Simplicity• Delce et utile

Additional Arguments• Poetry is an Educator• The Ideal aim of Poetry• Morality introduced by

Poetry• Poetic Culture• Christianity• Monarch of Education and

Philosophy• Speaking Picture of Poetry